Atmospheric ablation: the potential environmental impact of space debris re-entering Earth鈥檚 upper atmosphere
The UK Space Agency is making available up to 拢300,000 of grant funding to map out the current state of research into atmospheric ablation (knowns, unknowns and gaps in knowledge), within the wider technical, geopolitical and socio-ecological context, in order to develop a viable research programme with short, medium and long-term goals.
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Space sustainability is a priority for the UK (and globally), and we must take action to preserve the outer space environment for future generations.鈥�
While space debris presents a real and increasing risk to the space-based services we all rely on daily, which we are trying to tackle through a national debris removal mission, we do not know enough about the potential negative impact of deorbiting spacecraft and other space objects on Earth鈥檚 atmosphere or climate.鈥�
We are therefore commissioning a study to review existing research and guide the scope and type of research required to effectively aid decision-making on this important issue.
This study is expected to take 6 months.
Applications must be submitted to [email protected] by 12pm on 20 January 2024.
Updates to this page
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In the Deadline and contact section of the Application guidance - HTML attachment, the deadline has been changed from 19 January to 20 January.
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Grant funding agreement (GFA) attachment added.
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First published.